Key opener



June 12, 1934. 0. WEEK KEY OPENER Filed Nov. 14. 1932 Ema/whoa O CARWEEK Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in key openers, and is animprovement over that shown and described in my copending applicationSerial No. 592,149.

5 An important object of my invention is to provide a key for prying offthe lids of friction top cans, andit is also adaptable, if desired, foruse with rip-strip cans.

A further object is toprovide a key which is 4 designed to hang on abail or the like, and one which may be used over and over again.

Another object is to provide a key opener having its bight portionflattened and curved for providing a prying point.

Another object is to provide a key with a rigid double shank and whichwill be found serviceable over a long period of use.

Still another object is to provide a reinforced double shank key forheavy duty work.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a pair of inturnedspring tensioned hooks, which serve as a convenient finger grippingportion and also for allowing the key to be handily forced on or off abail or the like.

A final object is to provide a simple and efficient key opener which ischeap to manufacture, a handy device for the kitchen and the home, andone which is adapted to serve numerous purposes.-

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, andwhich like parts are employed to designate like parts in all views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the key being applied to a frictiontop container,

Figure 2 is a view of an upper portion of a can showing the bailprovided with a. key,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my key opener,

Figure 4 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modification 4 showing a reinforcementin said key, and

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

In the drawing the numeral 6 designates the key opener, which ispreferably constructed of 45 but a single length of heavy wire bent .toform a U or doubled shank 7 and 7' to define a slot 8. The free ends ofthe shanks 7' and '7 converge outwardly as at 9 and 9' to form theinturned hooks 10 and 10', which normally contact with 50 each other.This arrangement provides a spring tension to the-hooks 10 and 10',allowing the hooks to open upon the application of pressure. The bightportion of the key is widened and horizontally flattened as at 11, andis provided 5 with a curved or dished portion 12, as clearly shown inFigure 4. This portion 12 extends above the plane of the shank andprovides a prying point. By urging the-key in between a container 13 anda friction top 14, the easy removal of the lid is accomplished by merelypressing downwardly on the key. The underside of the curved portion 12is ground off slightly and reduced as at 15 to form a knife-like bladeportion for permitting the key to enter easily between the top and thecan.

In Figure 2 is shown the key 6 as attached to a bail 16 of the can 13.The spring hooks 10 and 10' serve to retain the key to the bail. Bymeans of the end portions 1-7 and 17' of the hooks a guideway 18 isformed, as shown in Figure 3, which permits the easy removal of the hookfrom the bail. The spring hooks are oppositely disposed, and associatewith each other, and the loss of the key from the bail is impossible. 76

In Figures 5 and 6 a modification of my device is shown. This includesthe provision of the reinforcement 19 which may be a spot weld or thelike near the bight portion for providing added rigidity to the devicefor heavy duty work. 0 The reinforcement bridges the gap or slot definedby the doubled shank.

As will be apparent, I have devised an inexpensive key for openingfriction top containers and one that is adapted to hang on a bail 5- ornail for handy use. It will take the place of a screw driver, heretoforenecessary in opening, these cans, and is more convenient for this use.Its sharp andflattened point is useful in opening Mason jars, and isadaptable for many other purposes around the kitchen and home. The slotdefining double shank permits the key to open rip-strip cans, andfurther, the strip can be easily removed from the key after being woundthereon, and the key can be re-used. Most key openers are adapted to beused but once whereas my key is to be used over and over again.

.Having thus described-my invention, what I claim is:

1. A key opener comprising a single wire bent to form a doubled shank,the free ends of said wire forming a pair of inturned hooks said hooksnormally engaging each other to provide means for retaining said openeron a bail and the like, and the bight portion of said shank having acurved prying point.

' 2. A key opener consisting of a wire bent to form a doubled shank thebight portion of said shank being horizontally flattened and extendedabove the plane of said shank, and said shank having reinforcing meansbridging the shank for providing rigidity to the key.

3. A key opener comprising a single wire bent to form a slot-definingdoubled shank, the bight portion of said shank being widened andhorizontally flattened and provided with an upwardly extending curvedpoint, the free ends ofsaid wire converging outwardly and inturned toform a pair of oppositely disposed tensioned hooks, said hooks normallyengaging eachother to provide means for retaining said opener on a bailand the like. 1

4. The structure of claim 8, and reiniorc gaging each other to providemeans for retaining the hook to a bail and the like.

OSGAR WEEK.

